Fountain Inn, SC vs Surfside Beach, SC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fountain Inn is 18.3% cheaper than Surfside Beach. With a cost index of 86 vs 105, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fountain Inn to Surfside Beach should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fountain Inn is $1,072/month compared to $1,274/month in Surfside Beach — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fountain Inn is more affordable at $255,400 median vs $412,100.

Median household income in Fountain Inn is $72,021 compared to $74,202 in Surfside Beach (-2.9%). Surfside Beach does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Fountain Inn spend roughly 17.9% of their income on rent, less than the 20.6% in Surfside Beach.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (61.3°F vs 64°F). Fountain Inn receives more rainfall at 49.7" per year compared to 48.5" in Surfside Beach.